Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-29
A Covcrnrncnt TeiegFnp'i.


II is quite q matter OF course TO
read that Mr.. Dorshcimer, Growers
trusty New York engineer, declares TINT
Grover Will he triumphantly reelected :;
but is altogether amusing to read that
Mr.. Dorshcimer express d a profound
conviction to the same Washington III
toryiewer that for the Government 10
construct postal telegraph would he
dangerous Capitalization of power.
History reports some such views on
Capitalization OF power" ever since
statesmen of the Republican form Of
faith have been Advocating national ca
nails, turnpikes, and other internal im-
provemcnts. II was also "centralza-
ton OF power in The sensitive minds Of
some peculiar p triots fer the Govern
ment to undertake b. regulate railroad
traffic in the interest Of the public by
means OF the Interstate commerce bill.
Nevertheless, the small shippers Of Tie
country testify already to the general
benefits derived from that act, which
was, admittedly, intended rather as an
experiment than as n perfected system.
But it might be asked oil Mr.. DorsLci-
mcr, is the letter pOsta dangerous cen
tralization OF power ' when existing eN-
press companies and other forwarding
concerns would be willing TO carry the
mails Is il dangerous ccntraliza-
ton of power" for the Government to
declare that although a citizen pays an
express company for caryinga letter, Inc
must also pay the Government two
cents for postage in addition 10 the for
wardng cOmpany's charges, and is IT
a dangerous Capitalization Of power
for the Government to exact a lucent
stamp, in addition to ordinary postage.
for a "speciai-delivery letter? IS
not this special-dciivery system direct
interference with the business Of express
companies in the several states; Is II
also u dangerous Capitalization OF
power" for the Post-Oflice Department
TO sell money ordors-a direct inter-
ference with the exchange business Of
State banks?
Finally, would the establishment Of a
postal telegraph by the Government be
more dangerous contradiction OF
power than the consolidation of all the
telegraph lines of the country under the
control of one greedy corporation
The Constitution Of Pennsylvania for
babe the consolidation of two such tcle-
graph lines as the Western Union and
the National Union, but they were con-
solidated notwithstanding and this Stale
Constitution forbids the consolidation of
the Baltimore and Ohio telegraph with
the Western Union, but they also have
been consolidated-yet we hayeno heard
Mr.. Dorsheimer railing against such acts
as dangerous Capitalization Of power ~
on the part of the corporation whose
prime object is plainly to annihllate COM
petition and impose an on-rous tax Tor
INSTRUMENTATION between the people
of the several States.
The Government should oxpend its
dangerous surplus Of 500. 100000 III the
construction oil a postal telegraph which
would enfranchise tine people from the
BONDAGE of Il dangerous Capitalization
OF power" on the part of private corDo-
ration. and thereby encourage the dis
semination Of intelligence through tie
medium OF cheap teleeraphic commuDi-
cation. The Governments dangerous
surplus of 500, 900, 00G could not be OK
pended in safer or a wiser way. and
Mr.. Dorsheimcr, presidential adviser,
should advocate this safest and wisest
mode of expanding the Government S
dangerously centraliZinG surplus.